The shinin' golden coins did look so bright and jolly
I took 'em with me home and I gave 'em to my Molly
She promised and she vowed that she never would deceive me
But the devil's in the women and they never can be easy

Chorus:

When I was awakened between six and seven
The guards were all around me in numbers odd and even
I flew to my pistols, but alas I was mistaken
For Molly's drawn my pistols and a prisoner I was taken

Chorus:

They put me into jail without judge or writin'
For robbing Colonel Pepper on Kilgary Mountain
But they didn't take my fists so I knocked the sentry down
And bid a fond farewell to the jail in Sligo town

Chorus:

Now some take delight in fishin' and in bowlin'
And others take delight in carriages a-rollin'
But I take delight in the juice of the barley
And courtin' pretty girls in the morning so early

Kevin Barry

In Mountjoy jail one Monday morning,
High upon the gallow`s tree,
Kevin Barry gave his young life,
For the cause of liberty.
Just a lad of eighteen summers,
And yet no one and deny,
As he walked to death that morning,
He proudly held his head up high.

Just before he faced the hangman,
in his dreary prison cell,
British soldiers tortured Barry,
Just because he would not tell,
The names of his brave comrades,
And other things they wished to know,
"Turn informer or we`ll kill you",
Kevin Barry answered "No".

Calmly standing to attention,
While he bade his last farewell,
To his broken-hearted mother,
who`s sad grief, no one can tell.
For the cause he proudly cherished,
This sad parting had to be,
Then to death walked softly smiling,
That old Ireland might be free.

Another martyr for old Ireland,
Another murder for the Crown,
Whose brutal laws may kill the Irish,
But can`t keep their spirit down.
Lads like Barry are no cowards,
From the foe they will not fly,
Lads like Barry will free Ireland,
For her sake they`ll live and die.

KITTY OF COLERAINE

As beautiful Kitty one morning was tripping,
With a pitcher of milk from the fair of Coleraine,
When she saw him she stumbled, the pitcher it tumbled,
And all the sweet buttermilk watered the plain.
Oh! What shall I do now, 'twas looking at you now,
Sure, sure, such a pitcher I'll ne'er meet again.
'Twas the pride of my dairy, Oh, Barney McCleary,
You're sent as a plague on the girls of Coleraine.

He sat down beside her and gently did chide her,
That such a misfortune should give her such pain.
A kiss then he gave her, and before he did leave her,
She vowed for such pleasure, she'd break it again.
'Twas haymaking season, I can't tell the reason,
Misfortune will never come single 'tis plain,
For very soon after poor Kitty's disaster,
The divil a pitcher was whole in Coleraine.

KATHLEEN MAVOURNEEN

Kathleen Mavourneen! the grey dawn is breaking
The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill,
The lark from her light wing the bright dew is shaking
Kathleen Mavourneen--what, slumbering still!
O hast thou forgotten how soon we must sever?
O hast thou forgotten this day we must part?
It may be for years, and it may be forever;
Oh, why art thou silent, thou voice of my heart?
It may be for years, and it may be forever;
Then why art thou silent, Kathleen Mavourneen?

Kathleen Mavourneen! awake from thy slumbers
The blue mountains glow in the sun's golden light,
Ah! Where is the spell that once hung on my numbers?
Arise in thy beauty, thou star of my night.
Mavourneen, mavourneen, my sad tears are falling
To think that from Erin and thee I must part.
It may be for years, and it may be forever;
Oh, why art thou silent, thou voice of my heart?
It may be for years, and it may be forever;
Then why art thou silent, Kathleen Mavourneen?

KELLY OF KILLANE (Kelly the boy from Killane)

What's the news, what's the news, oh my bold Chevalier
With your long barrelled gun of the sea?
Say what wind from the south blows his messenger here
With a hymn of the dawn for the free
Goodly news, goodly news, do I bring youth of forth
Goodly news shall you hear, Bargy man
For the boys march at morn from the south to the north
Led by Kelly the boy from Killane

Tell me who is that giant with gold curling hair
He who rides at the head of your band?
Seven feet is his height, with some inches to spare
And he looks like a king in command
Ah my lads that's the pride of the bold chevaliers
'Mong our greatest of heroes, a man!
Fling your beavers aloft and give three ringing cheers
For John Kelly, the boy from Killane

Enniscorthy's in flames, and old Wexford is won
And the Barrow tomorrow we cross
On ahill o'er the town we have planted a gun
That will batter the gateway of Ross
All the Forth men and Bargy men march o'er the heath
With brave Harvey to lead on the van
But the foremost of all in the grim Gap of Death
Will be Kelly, the boy from Killane

But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross
And it set by the Slaneys red waves
And poor Wexford stript naked hung high on a cross
And her heart pierce by traitors and slaves
Glory O! Glory O! to her brave sons who died
For the cause of long down-trodden man!
Glory O! to Mount Leinster's own darling and pride
Dauntless Kelly, the boy from Killane

KERRY DANCE, THE

Chorus:
Oh, the days of the Kerry dancing
Oh, the ring of the piper's tune
Oh, for one of those hours of gladness
Gone, alas, like our youth, too soon!

When the boys began to gather
In the glen of a summer's night
And the Kerry piper's tuning
Made us long with wild delight!
Oh, to think of it
Oh, to dream of it
Fills my heart with tears!

Chorus

Was there ever a sweeter Colleen
In the dance than Eily More
Or a prouder lad than Thady
As he boldly took the floor

Lads and lasses to your places
Up the middle and down again
Ah, the merry hearted laughter
Ringing through the happy glen!
Oh, to think of it
Oh, to dream of it
Fills my heart with tears!

Chorus

Time goes on, and the happy years are dead
And one by one the merry hearts are fled
Silent now is the wild and lonely glen
Where the bright glad laugh will echo ne'er again
Only dreaming of days gone by in my heart I hear

Loving voices of old companions
Stealing out of the past once more
And the sound of the dear old music
Soft and sweet as in days of yore

When the boys began to gather
In the glen of a summer's night
And the Kerry piper's tuning
Made us long with wild delight!
Oh, to think of it
Oh, to dream of it
Fills my heart with tears!

KELVIN GROVE

Let us haste to Kelvin Grove, bonnie lassie, O
Thro' its mazes let us rove, bonnie lassie, O
Where the roses in their pride
Deck the bonnie dingle side
Where the midnight fairies glide, bonnie lassie, O.

Let us wander by the mill, bonnie lassie, O
To the cove beside the rill, bonnie lassie, O
Where the glens rebound the call
Of the roaring waters' fall
Thro' the mountains rocky hall, bonnie lassie, O.

KELTY CLIPPIE

I have travelled o'er this country, from shore to shining shore
Frae the swamps o' Ochardarren tae the jungles o' Loch Ore
But in all these far flung places, there's nane that can compare
Wi' my lily o' Long Finnin, she's my bonny Maggie Blair

Chorus:
Oh she's just a Kelty Cilppie, she'll no take na advice
And it's ach! Drop died or we'll boil your heid and I'll punch your ticket twice
Her Father's just a waster, her Mother's on the gain
She's just a Kelty Cilppie and I love her just the same

Well I met her on the eight-fifteen that night o' romantic bliss
Says I, "Hey, Mag, put doon your fag and gi'e us a wee bit kiss."
Noo she didna tak' this kindly, she didna like my chaff
And being a contrary kind of lass, she said, "Come on, get off!"

Chorus

Frae the pyramids up at Kelty, tae the mansions of Glenn Craig
We've trod the banks together and many of life's travails
Seen the moonlight over Crosshill, trod Buckhiem's golden sands
And many a happy hoor we spent in Loch Gelly's happy land

Chorus

Now she has na got na culture, she drives me roond the bend
She sits at night in her old arm chair, reading the people's friend
Her lapel is full of badges, fray bodlens doon her ears
And she gangs tae the bingo every night with the curlers still in her hair

Chorus

Ah, but things are a wee bit better now, I've gone and I've got the ring
I won it frae Robin at the pitch and toss last night at the Lindsay Bing
Wi' her wee black bag and her ticket machine, she did my heart ensare
She's my lily o' Long Finnin, she's my bonny Maggie Blair

KILKELLY

Kilkelly, Ireland, 1860, my dear and loving son John
Your good friend schoolmaster Pat McNamara's so good as to write these words down.
Your brothers have all got a fine work in England; the house is so empty and sad
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected, a third to a half of them bad.
And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell are going to be married in June.
Mother says not to work on the railroad and be sure to come on home soon.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 1870, my dear and loving son John
Hello to your missus and to your four children, may they grow healthy and strong.
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble; I suppose that he never will learn.
Because of the darkness there's no turf to speak of and now we have nothing to burn.
And Brigid is happy, we named a child for her and now she's got six of her own.
You say you found work, but you don't say what kind or when you will be coming home.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 1880, dear Michael and John, my sons
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news that your dear old mother has gone.
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly, your brothers and Brigid were there.
You don't have to worry, she died very quickly, remember her in your prayers.
And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning, with money he's sure to buy land
For the crop has been bad and the people are selling at every price that they can.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 1890, my dear and loving son John
I suppose that I must be close on eighty, it's thirty years since you've gone.
Because of all of the money you send me, I'm still living out on my own.
Michael has built himself a fine house and Brigid's daughters have grown.
Thank you for sending your family picture; they're lovely young women and men.
You say that you might even come for a visit, what joy to see you again.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 1892, my dear brother John
I'm sorry I didn't write sooner to tell you, but father passed on.
He was living with Brigid; she says he was cheerful and healthy right down to the end.
Ah, you should have seen him play with the grandchildren of Pat McNamara, your friend.
And we buried him alongside of mother, down at the Kilkelly churchyard.
He was a strong and a feisty old man, considering his life was so hard.
And it's funny the way he kept talking about you, he called for you in the end.
Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit, we'd all love to see you again.

THE KING OF BALLYHOOLEY

I'll tell yez how it was with me if to listen yez are willin'
'Twas in yon house behind yon hill where I had lately been distillin'
I slung a keg upon me back and started out for daylight cooly
Good customers I did not lack and I sold it all in Ballyhooley

I thought it wiser to delay me homeward way for fear of Peelers
And in that way I spent the day dinin' with the whiskey dealers
But as the shades of night came down and I had got me money duly
I bid goodnight to all was there and I started home from Ballyhooley

My heart was light with the Mountain Dew that I had brewed among the heather
And on me way I chanced to spy a lad and lassie walk together
Her neck was like the mountain snow with cheeks like roses blossomed newly
She'd a voice like music soft and low she was the flower of Ballyhooley

This young man quickly left her side he was afraid of me that he was
----it was in love with me that she was
Then quickly up beside her came says I fair maid I love you truly
And if your parents give consent will you be my bride in Ballyhooley

I have a house behind yon hill two fine greyhounds and a ferret
Besides I have a little still the drop it makes with you I'll share it
And I have got a feather bed with sheets and blankets purchased newly
Besides I have a ring to wed if you'll be mine in Ballyhooley

Her cherry cheeks they grew more red during the time that we were talkin'
And still she hung her little head and viewed the ground where we were walkin'
She says young man if you're content and if you say you love me truly
And if me parents give consent I'll be your bride in Ballyhooley

I asked her name she said it was Jane and that her second name was Cooley
And then I asked her when we'd wed she said the sooner wed the better
So I went and asked her parents glad if they were content to let me get her
They said they were they wished us luck we started out for Father Dooley
And at the hour of twelve o'clock he tied the knot in Ballyhooley

The Weddin' that we had that day the people comin' uninvited
The piper played for every squad Jane she sang and I recited
The poteen flowed like a waterfall that from the still had just come newly
And in that way we gaily spent our honeymoon in Ballyhooley

The Weddin' presents that got none of them was mean or shabby
And me Auntie Dot she bought some cloth to make the dresses for the baby
Invitations then went round to friends that we had just made newly
A lighter heart could not be found that mine that night in Ballyhooley

It's fifteen years now since we wed still in every way we're thrivin'
Me Jane she is a dandy yet though down the hill of life she's drivin'
The family has increased in store fifteen daughters all unruly
Bonny Jane she is me Queen and I'm the king of Ballyhooley.

KISHORN COMMANDOS

Chorus:
We're the Kishorn Commandos way up in Wester Ross
We never had a gaffer; we've never had a boss
But, we'll build the biggest oil rig you've ever come across
Remember we're the Kishorn Commandos

Oh, every single morning we get wakened by a shout
Get up you idle buggers won't you get your fingers out
And what do get for breakfast, seven pints of stout
Remember we're the Kishorn Commandos

Digging down a dusty hole till we can hardly speak
Summer sunshine, rain or snow we seldom stop to sleep
We work for 40 hours a day, at fourteen days a week
Remember we're the Kishorn Commandos

We're the toughest gang of workers that you have ever met
We'll work and fight with anyone and you can lay a bet
There may be some men tougher, but we haven't found them yet
Remember we're the Kishorn Commandos

We never joined the navy; we'd never joined the RAF
We never joined the army, we're not so bloody daffed
We'd rather come to Kishorn and get paid for skiven aff
Remember we're the Kishorn Commandos

You're welcome here in Kishorn if you know how to work
We've Geordies here from Africa and Paddies from New York
We've Scowsers, Jocks and Taffies all from the County Cork
Remember we're the Kishorn Commandos

And when the job is over we'll up and pack our bags
We'll spend our money on the booze the women and the nags
But until then we'll have to do with Navvys dressed in drag
Remember we're the Kishorn Commandos

KISSING IN THE DARK

For lang I courted Jeannie, and wrought with might and main,
To get a puckle silver and a biggin' o' my ain;
Every night I gaed to see her, be it late or be it mirk;
And when she cam' to meet me, I would kiss her in the dark.
The dark, the dark, the dark, the dark, the dark;
And when she cam' to meet me, I would kiss her in the dark.

One night I gaed to see her, and my Jeannie bein' frae home,
I slippit tae the window, and rattled at the pane;
Oot cam' Jeannie's motherr, and the night it bein' sae dark,
I took her in my airms, and kissed her in the dark.
The dark, the dark, the dark, the dark, the dark;
I took her in my airms, and kissed her in the dark.

She ruggit and she tuggit, and she tried to run awa'
But I held her aye the closer, Ay, and gaed her another twa.
Then out she burst a-laughin' Says, "This is an awful wark,
Tae touzle an auld body, and tae kiss her in the dark."
The dark, the dark, the dark, the dark, the dark;
Tae touzle an auld body, and tae kiss her in the dark."

Then I made for runnin', But she held me sure and fast;
Says, "Ye needna be sae hurry, lad, the secret's out at last.
Jeannie's doon at Auntie's, and she'll get an awful start,
When I tell her how ye touzled me, and kissed me in the dark."
The dark, the dark, the dark, the dark, the dark;
When I tell her how ye touzled me, and kissed me in the dark."

I stopped wi' Jeannie's mother, till my Jeannie did come hame,
She tell't her a' the story, which I though an awful shame;
But noo I have gotten Jeannie, after a' the coortin' work;
And there's few that lands sae lucky with their kissin' in the dark.
The dark, the dark, the dark, the dark, the dark;
And there's few that lands sae lucky with their kissin' in the dark.

We hadna lang been married when Jeannie's mother aye grew ill;
She sent me for a lawyer, she was going to make her will.
She has left me all her silver, and made many a remark;
For I got the auld wife's blessin' for the kissin' in the dark.
The dark, the dark, the dark, the dark, the dark;
And there's few that lands sae lucky wi' their kissin' in the dark.

THE KNOCK SONG

At the early age of thirty-eight me mother sent West
"Get up," sez she, "and get a job." Sez I, "I'll do me best."
I pulled on my Wellingtons to march Kiltimagh
But I took a wrong turn in Charlestown and ended up in Knock

Once this quiet crossroads was a place of gentle prayer
Where Catholics got indulgent once or twice a year
You could buy a pair of rosary beads or get your candles blessed
If you had a guilty conscience you could get it off your chest

Then came the priest from Patry, Father Horan was his name
And since he's been appointed Knock has never been the same
"Begod," sez Jem, " "tis eighty years since Mary was a doubt."
"Tis time for another miracle." He blew the candle out

Chorus:
From Fatima to Bethlehem from Lourdes to Kiltimagh
There's never been a miracle like the airport up in Knock

To establish terra firma he drew up a ten year plan
And started running dances around nineteen sixty-one
He built a fantabalous church, me girls, all on the holy ground
And once he had a focal point he started to expand

Chip shops and Bed and Breakfasts sprung up over night
Once a place for quiet retreats now a holy sight
All sorts of fancy restaurants for every race and creed
Where black and white and yellow pilgrims all could get a feed

The stalls once under canvas became religious supermarts
With such a range o' godly goods, they had up twenty charts
While the airport opposition was destroyed by James' trump card.
For centenary celebrations he got John Paul the twenty-third.

"We had the Blessed virgin here," Bold Jamesie did declare,
"And Pope John Paul the twenty-third appeared just over there."
"Now do you mean to tell me," he said in total shock,
"That I am not entitled to an airport here Knock."

TD's were lobby and harassed with talk of promised votes
And people who'd loyal for years now spoke of changing coats
Eternal damnation was threatened on the flock
Who said it was abortive building airports up in Knock

Now everyone is happy, the miracle is complete.
Father Horan's got his runway it's eighteen thousand feet
All sorts of planes could land there, of that there's little doubt
Handy for the Yankees to keep the Russians out

Did NATO donate the dough, me boys, did NATO donate the dough
Did NATO donate the dough, me girls, did NATO donate the dough
Did NATO donate the dough, the dough, did NATO donate the dough
Eighteen thousand feet of runway is a mighty long way to go, oh oh